Chapter 2
I wake up as the first rays of sunlight streak into the rocky caves. Birds seem to be chirping and the breeze blew through the cave opening.
However, all that did was leave a sorrowful longing in my heart. I knew we would have to move again. although, I was beginning to feel like a had a life here in Houston.
I think of all the friends I had made here. Fyra was now outside erasing any traces of us from the memories of the wolves we'd lived with. Soon, none of my friends will remember me at all. No one will recall knowing two wolves named Fyra and Flame. It will be as if we had never existed.
The sound of pawsteps jar me out of my thoughts. I look up as Fyra comes into the cave. Her orange fur billows in the light breeze.
"Time?" I ask.
She nods.
I sigh. It was time for us to leave.
I stand up and shake the dust out of my black and orange fur. Then Fyra and I set off for our next destination…wherever that was going to be.
"Where are we going this time Mother?" I asked after a while.
"I figured we could stay in Texas a little longer," Fyra replies. "So we're heading for Corpus Christi."
I chuckle.
"As weird as it may sound," I say, "I hope we can stay there for a while. Maybe for a year or two. It'd be nice to stay somewhere for more than a few months or days at a time."
Fyra stops and fixes me with a hard gaze.
Uh oh.
Maybe that wasn't the best thing to say.
Fyra is silent for a while. Then she tilts her head to the side.
"Have you looked at your necklace lately Flame?" she asks. "Tell me. How many charms are left on it?"
I glance at the single fire charm that hangs from my necklace.
"One," I reply with a sigh.
"Exactly," says Fyra. "This isn't about what you want Flame. This is about keeping you safe. It's about ensuring the survival of the Fireclaw tribe. Every time one of us, every time one of you pups, dies, our chances decrease. We've lost four out of twelve already. You're Number 5. You're next in line Flame. The Shadefangs are looking for you now. I don't want to lose you. You are my son and I won't let anything happen to you. I am not going to argue with you Flame. At the first sign of danger, we leave. Got it?"
I nod to show I understand.
"Good," Fyra says. "Now come. We've got a long way to go."
We continued on in silence for a while, stopping only to rest, eat, or get a drink of water. Fyra figured we would reach Corpus Christi within a week or two.
It was the fourth day of traveling when we were pass through some woods, when Fyra suddenly stopped and put out her tail to stop me. Her ears had shot forward and she had gone tense and alert.
"Stay quiet and close to me," she whispered. "Someone's following us."
The first thought that raced through my mind was, 'It's the Shadefangs. They've found us!' My heart almost stopped beating entirely. I tensed, ready to either fight or run…whichever the case may be.
Fyra stepped protectively over me and growled a warning.
"We know you're there!" she snarled. "Come on out!"
The bushes to our left rustled. I was ready to bolt…
Then out of the bushes came a brown furred wolf and a pink furred wolf.
I sighed in relief. It wasn't Shadefangs.
"Hello there!" the brown furred wolf said. "My name's Blythe, and this is Kitty. Who are you?"
Fyra relaxed a bit.
"My name is Fyra," she replied. "Forgive us if we're intruding. My son and I were just on our way to Corpus."
"Oh my!" Kitty exclaimed. "That's quite a long way away! I don't think you'll reach it for at least another three weeks."
I let out a groan. I didn't want to travel for another three weeks; I was already worn out enough!
"Why don't you two come with us?" Blythe suggested. "We have food, water, and shelter at our camp. And there are a lot of other pups about. I'm sure you're son would like that."
"Really?!" I exclaimed, my tail wagging excitedly.
I heard an exasperated groan from Fyra. Kitty giggled.
"Of course little one!" she said to me with a smile. "What's your name by the way?"
In my excitement, I almost say 'Five', but I caught myself before the word came out.
"My name is Flame," I said.
"Well Flame," says Kitty, "I'm quite sure you'll find plenty of new friends at the camp."
I turn to Fyra and give her my best puppy eyes.
"Please Mom? Can we go? Pleasepleaseplease?" I beg.
Fyra chuckles, knowing there was no turning me away from this.
"Oh alright," she says, though I could tell from the relief in her voice that she was grateful for the break as well. "Blythe, Kitty, lead the way."
We follow Blythe and Kitty through the woods. We soon come to a large clearing full of wolves of all colors. There were plenty of tumbling pups about too. I had never felt more thrilled in my entire life.
Kitty and Blythe lead us to a small cave nearby.
"You both must be tired from your long journey," said Kitty. "This cave is free. Make yourselves at home."
"Thank you," says Fyra. "This is very kind of you both."
"Oh please, it's no trouble at all," Kitty says. "Well, we'll leave you two to settle in."
"Oh, and Flame?" Blythe says to me. "If your mother approves, we look forward to seeing you in class tomorrow."
"There's a school here?!" I cried in excitement.
I had always wanted to go to school. On all our other moves, Fyra had been cave-schooling me herself. To go to an actual school with other pups…this was something I had been dying to do.
"Yes," says Blythe. "Kitty and I are members of a group of teachers called the High Squad who specialize in unique aspects of pups. Kitty specializes in Hunting. I specialize in Unique Opportunities. All pups go through our program. I'm sure you'll fit right in."
"Well now Flame," says Fyra, with a sly grin. "Does that sound like something you want to do? You could always stay home with me…"
"School!" I yip happily. "School one hundred percent!"
Fyra chuckles.
"Well then," she says. "Better get a good night's rest dear. You've got yourself a busy day tomorrow."
Kitty and Blythe laugh at this.
"Well, we'll leave you to it," Kitty says. "We'll see you tomorrow Flame!"
"Thanks!" I call.
After they were gone, I went into the cave and soon I was sleeping like I hadn't slept in weeks.